Nihongo Online School

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Tips for More Effective Studying

Nihongo Online School > Tips for More Effective Studying

Basic Japanese Greetings and Phrases for Beginners (With Pronunciation)

2026/05/24

Learning Japanese can feel overwhelming at first, but basic greetings in Japanese follow a clear logic, easy to memorize.  This guide covers everything a beginner needs: the right Japanese greetings and phrases for the right moment, how to pronounce them, and how to leave a conversation gracefully.  Contents1 Basic Japanese Greetings Depending on the Time […] […]

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Is JLPT N5 Enough for Daily Life in Japan?

2026/05/24

When you plan on moving to this side of the world, there is always someone on the internet telling you that basic language levels are absolutely useless. Today, I want to bust that myth. If you find yourself asking, “is JLPT N5 Enough for Daily Life in Japan?“, the answer has some nuances, but I […] […]

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How Many Hours to Reach Each CEFR Level in Japanese?

2026/05/24

Japanese is one of the hardest languages for English speakers. Before committing months or years to it, you deserve real numbers.  Here is exactly how many hours you need to reach each CEFR level, from A1, B1 to C1, in Japanese. Contents1 The CEFR Scale for Japanese Learning: A Quick Reminder2 How Long Does It […] […]

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My 6-Month JLPT N5 Roadmap: How to Organize Your Studies Without Going Crazy

2026/05/24

Arriving in Japan and facing the language from absolute scratch is overwhelming. Today, holding an N3 level and working in marketing here in Tokyo, I look back and realize that it all started with a clear plan. If you want to take the test and have no idea where to begin, here is my 6-Month […] […]

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How Long It Takes to Learn Hiragana and Katakana

2026/05/24

Learning a language from scratch is always a challenge, and when you first arrive in Japan, the very first thing that hits you is that the street signs, the menus, and daily life itself are written in symbols you don’t understand. If you are trying to master the Japanese alphabet, I can tell you that […] […]

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Is JLPT N5 Difficult? My Honest Experience as a Beginner

2026/05/24

When I first arrived in Tokyo back in mid-2022, the language barrier was intense. Today, holding an N3 certification, I look back and realize that taking that first step with 日本語 (Nihongo – Japanese language) was crucial. If you find yourself wondering about the JLPT N5 difficulty, I’m here to give you the honest truth. […] […]

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CEFR A1 in Japanese vs JLPT N5 : A Comparison for Beginners

2026/05/23

CEFR A1 in Japanese and JLPT N5 both mark the beginner level but they are different systems and recognized differently depending on your goals.  This article explains how CEFR A1 and JLPT N5 compare, what the official equivalence actually means, and which one to prioritize based on your situation. Contents1 How Does JLPT Compare to […] […]

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What Is CEFR A1 Level in Japanese?

2026/05/23

CEFR A1 is the first level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. In Japanese, it marks the point where a complete beginner starts being able to use the language in simple situations.  This article covers what CEFR is, how to assess your current CEFR level for Japanese language, and what you can […] […]

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9 Beginner Mistakes I did While Studying JLPT N5

2026/05/17

When we take our first steps into learning Japanese, it’s completely normal to feel a mix of deep excitement and utter overwhelm. The JLPT N5 level is our first major goal, the foundation upon which we will build all our future fluency. However, in that initial enthusiasm to absorb everything we can, we often fall […] […]

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How Long It Took Me to Pass JLPT N5: My Real and Honest Experience

2026/05/17

When we decide to dive into the fascinating yet challenging world of the Japanese language, one of the very first questions that crosses our minds is how long it will take us to reach our first official milestone. The JLPT N5 exam is the gateway to certifying that we understand the absolute fundamentals of the […] […]

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My JLPT N5 Study Guide as a Beginner Japanese Learner

2026/05/09

When I made the decision to move to Japan, I knew I couldn’t arrive empty-handed regarding the language. Many recommend studying once you are already in the country, but I decided to prepare myself beforehand. In this article, I want to share my personal jlpt n5 study guide: the exact methods, the time I invested, […] […]

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Learn Japanese From Zero: The Beginner Roadmap to JLPT N5

2026/05/08

If you’ve ever dreamed of understanding your favorite series without subtitles or traveling around Japan communicating with the locals, you’ve probably wondered where to start. Learning Japanese from zero might seem like a titanic task, especially when you see those symbols that look like drawings and hear a grammar totally different from ours. However, I […] […]

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